captint Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Hi Great site and loads of useful banter. I've just sold my E46 M3 SMG, and am looking to buy a 350Z. Iv'e test drove a couple and must say that the driving position is the best i've ever experience. As I'm new I'm sorry if I'm posing this in the wrong section, please feel free to boot me into another section. A) Should I buy an import or a UK spec car? I do want to up the power so I have started investigating mods, plan so far - Stage 1 - DC 3 -1 Header + Single canister exhaust and K&N Typhoon Cold intake system Looking at using ABP in crewe, anyone used them? - Stage 2 - SC or TT, I asked about the HKS SC, but that has been discountinued and is being replaced by a TT, this is out in August and they offer two packs, one with out internals and one with. any Ideas? Sorry about all the questions, I'm just excited and a bit lost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captint Posted July 13, 2006 Author Share Posted July 13, 2006 Oh by the way I can't type for s@@t Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 captint If you are going to do plenty of mods, which looking at your list you are, I would recomend you go the JDM route. Save yourself some money which you can use towards the mods. It would be advisible to get one from last quarter of 2004 onwards as the suspension is the same spec as UK. We have forum discount with TDI. They may be worth having a chat with about SC or TT and cost. Plenty of other members will be along shortly to advise on SC or TT with more experience than me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lomoto Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 I think I was in the same postion as yourself 6 months ago, I went down the import route as I knew I would be adding bits on; so paying a lot extra for a UK car with a warranty was not an option ..Lots of threads already about the slight differences in spec on Imports Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Yes always a good place to start is here concerning JDM http://www.350z-uk.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=37 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Cadet Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 I had a very bad experience with ABP a few years ago, I think in hindsight they bit off more than they could chew, they ruined my engine then suggested I spend more money at a local tuner to effectively rebuild and tune the engine. I spent an absolute fortune with them and even more with the tuner, I was left with an un-drivable car and sold it at a major loss. I obviously should have just sued their ass, but at the time was perhaps naive and just saw the extra bhp that the tuner would be able to get. Needless to say, I would never go there ever again and would not advise anyone else to let them tamper with their engine. Obviously I am not suggesting you shouldn’t buy anything from them to fit yourself/elsewhere, but I wouldn’t trust them mechanically. May be harsh, but they cost me a fortune and therefore would just prefer it if they went bankrupt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Removed Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Hi Great site and loads of useful banter. A) Should I buy an import or a UK spec car? B ) I do want to up the power so I have started investigating mods, plan so far - Stage 1 - DC 3 -1 Header + Single canister exhaust and K&N Typhoon Cold intake system Looking at using ABP in crewe, anyone used them? - Stage 2 - SC or TT, I asked about the HKS SC, but that has been discountinued and is being replaced by a TT, this is out in August and they offer two packs, one with out internals and one with. any Ideas? A) as mike says, yes, his suggestion is exactly one I would give you B ) skip stage 1, useless IMO especially with no ECU piggyback. I guess get yourself a decent true dual for the future FI. No need for intake and headers as you'd ditch them with FI, I'd go a proper plenum instead, again in view of the FI mod. HKS TT was displayed @ the Tokio salon, haven't heard anything else yet, if you get it in UK is gonna be AT LEAST £10K is my estimate, wait and see PS do the internals as well, might as well do it all together really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam's Z Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Good advice from the guys although it looks like you've already done lots of research Welcome to the site btw If your local to Peterborough, plenty of knowledge to be gained on the 21st - 23rd of this month @ JAE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest prescience Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Some good Qs. I would just say that you would be best waiting prior to going for a HKS TT (currently vapourware as Val has noted). Let the US guys iron out the bugs first would be my tip - there is so much more back-up there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captint Posted July 13, 2006 Author Share Posted July 13, 2006 Wow Thanks for the feedback chaps, ok looks like i'll give ABP a miss, where are TDI based? I'm looking for somewhere in the South. I've never used a Japanese specialist before, in the past used Birds and AMD for BMW's and VW, so I want to find somewhere I can trust I see from your Tag Prescience that you have a Vortech S/c, if you don't mind me asking, whats it like and what sort of ball park figure would I be looking at. Also if I am to go down the import road, any suggestion on where to buy one as I have seen hundreds of different firms Thanks for all the feed back really appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest prescience Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Prob. get it bought and installed for about - well see here http://www.350z-uk.com/forum/viewtopic ... ch&start=0 Its OK but its noisy [Edit - take no notice, I'm a bit fed up with the car ATM, it is much faster etc] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam's Z Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 [Edit - take no notice, I'm a bit fed up with the car ATM, it is much faster etc] dorian P.s still unable to make JAE? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest prescience Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 My reasons for not being able to come to JAE are as I said to you before, unrelated to the car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam's Z Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 My reasons for not being able to come to JAE are as I said to you before, unrelated to the car Np mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Removed Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 Also if I am to go down the import road, any suggestion on where to buy one as I have seen hundreds of different firms Thanks for all the feed back really appreciated I'd get one from a private seller which is an import aready Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lomoto Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 Also if I am to go down the import road, any suggestion on where to buy one as I have seen hundreds of different firms Thanks for all the feed back really appreciated I'd get one from a private seller which is an import aready I'll second that, best advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Cadet Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 AMD - wicked garage, took my Golf GTI turbo there, really professional outfit. Not had too much experience with the Z tuners yet, but WRX get great write-ups from the Subaru/Mitsubishi lot and TDI seem to know their stuff from the threads on this site. I'm pondering with the Supercharger route at the moment and will probably give TDI a try if I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M13KYF Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 you should find all the information you need here about TDI http://www.350z-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2433 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest prescience Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 To answer your Vortech question in a bit more detail. It can be imported and installed (there have been a number of very successful installs) for say about 4.2k. You should bear in mind, that to really get the best out of it, you should use a modified plenum (APS, Kinetix), hi-flow (Kinetix) or de-cats (APS) and a hi-flow exhaust (take your choice). Oh and colder spark plugs. Also, in terms of traction the Bridgestones were not up to it on 18s but the Toyos on 19s are - whether that is the tyre width or extra inertia I don't know, but it is important. Plus, I would recommend you go with gauges at least for A/F and boost with fuel pressure as highly recommended. Its still a very nice, cost-effective solution IMO and very tuneable (in theory) because it runs very rich (safe) in the upper RPMs. The performance is very impressive easily seeing off M3s etc but not quite in the same league as TT which costs much more of course. On the downside, it is (quite) noisy at idle and you do get a noticeable S/C whine in the lower RPMs (which I quite like) - both these 'features' can be removed by opting instead for the HKS S/C which is however quite a bit more expensive and much less tuneable - and the bypass valve on shifts (which I do like). In terms of maintenance, you need to do regular (3000 mile) oil changes and the belt will need tightening once or twice when new (a 10 min job). The fuel system (which uses a rising pressure method) is not the best and has been known to blow off fuel pipes so make sure the installer uses good fittings here and check these when you do an oil change. Overall, worth the money but you need to drive in one to see if you can live with the noise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captint Posted July 20, 2006 Author Share Posted July 20, 2006 Hi sorry for the absense of a response, been car hunting. Thanks for the advice, Ill keep the forum update with my progress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnie Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Hi sorry for the absense of a response, been car hunting. Thanks for the advice, Ill keep the forum update with my progress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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